It was over…

It had been twenty-eight days since I had completed my first spell and revived the golem Astaroth, and started a war between my son that would span across the city of Tokyo in a game in which the number of game pieces constantly fluctuated. Now, the very same lab I had performed the ritual was about to be burned to the ground by my own hand.

As I looked around inside to complex as I planted the final explosive, I looked around and reminisced to a time when I was the sole ruler of the Mishima Zaibatsu. Within this lab, I created monstrosities and living weapons solely to do my bidding, just like I had been doing the past month. Perhaps the reason I began these experiments were not to further my ambitions, but to relive old thrills.

However, there comes a time where a boy must put aside his toys and become a man. The past is the past, and it was time for me to move on.

I stepped out of the lab and looked at the afternoon sky, I once again thought about what I was doing. This laboratory was the last remaining part of my old empire that was untouched by my father. Saying farewell to it suddenly became harder, and was beginning to reconsider what I was doing.

It only took one thing, however, to goad me to staying the course: the sight of three graves at the top of the hill that was neighboring the lab. The first grave was marked with the remains of Astaroth's ax Kutules: the blade of the ax, or rather the "hatchet" as that would best describe its present condition, was dug into the ground. The second grave was denoted with the two-pronged shuriken/katana couple known as Rusty Wing and Red Crow, dug into the ground the same way Kutules was sitting. The final grave, which had just been completed by Jun, was the scrap of cloth that remained of Ryoku's gi, hung up with a wooden cross.

Loyalty and treachery, sitting side by side: the irony of such a formation was almost laughable. While I walked up to the peak of the hill, Jun stood up and watched as I turned around to look at the laboratory one last time. "You do not have to destroy it, Kazuya," she said in that unwavering voice of hers. "A test of your willpower is not always a bad thing to have."

"I was having second thoughts about it just a moment ago: the temptation is too great," I replied while I pulled out the detonator. "Besides, others might want to try and duplicate what I have been doing here, whether it is the sins I committed twenty years ago, or twenty days ago. The game ends here, with the destruction of this base."

"You're shooing away old demons…there was a time I thought you would never be able to do so," Jun smiled at this, as if she found comfort in my words. "I am glad to see that the skepticism that had been budding inside me was incorrect…"

"Do not jump to conclusions, Jun: my ambition still burns strong. As long as I can still clench my fists, my revenge will come someday." As I prepared to push the button that would decide the fate of the old laboratory, I pondered Jun's words about how I was shooing away old demons. Was it possible that she was indeed correct: that all of the evil I had done over the past few weeks was but a bizarre route towards redemption?

Delaying no further, I pressed the button and watched the explosions burst across the lab. At first, the building maintained its structure, suffering only damage to its outer wall, but after the fourth explosion it began to catch fire and finally detonate itself. As I watched the building burn, Jun spoke once again. "There is something on your mind: what can it be?"

"I am thinking about how you struck down your father without regret nor mercy," I answered while she finally turned to face me. "I did not think you capable of such a dark feat."

"He was but a ghost: I was merely returning him back to his rightful place." Jun turned her head away as she said that so that she was now facing her father's grave. She was silent was a few moments and then turned to watch the laboratory continue to blaze. "However, I do see the irony of your words: I have long considered myself an advocate of peace, and to take a stand like that might seem odd."

"If I am on the path of redemption, then perhaps you are but a stone's throw away from damnation," I chuckled at the irony while we continued to watch the fire burn. "At this rate, I might be the one saving you: wouldn't that be something?"

Jun said nothing while she turned around and began to walk away, but I saw her smile as she passed by me. I still wonder what she found amusing about what I said, but I suppose I will never know.

A couple of minutes later, someone else approached me: my brother Lee Chaolan. Watching the laboratory go up in smoke, Lee put his hands on his head and gasped. "What the hell happened here," he said with that ignorant tone of voice he had become so well-acquainted with. "Isn't that the old laboratory?"

"It was the old laboratory," I answered with a scoff before turning around to leave. "Now it is just a blazing heap of wreckage. You're welcome to have whatever is left of it after it finishes burning to the ground…"

As I conclude this recording, I leave whoever is listening to this a moment to grasp what I have told you. Write a book about it, make a film about it, or simply tell it to your colleagues: it makes little difference to me. However, never forget this tale I told you: the tale of the Tekkenshu Sentai Shinkenger!

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I suppose suddenly having a chapter that is 1000 words long when I've been cranking out ones that have been 3900+ words long since July seems awkward, but I suppose it makes little difference in the long run. Speaking of long runs, this fic was nearly twice as big as my previous one despite being a little under ten chapters shorter. I really hope those of you who were mature enough to keep on reading despite the odd plot enjoyed it.

I've lost count of how much negative feedback I've received not from how it was written, but from the plot. Honestly, what is so wrong about it? I took an idea that had been seldom thought of before, and expanded upon it to create a story. But enough of my man-whining: time for the credits.

A very special shout-out goes out to DigitalCount, as I do not think I would have been able to do this story without him. It was he who created the basic costume designs for the Shinkenger team, and it was he who helped organize my ideas early in the fic. Here's looking at ya, Josh.

I would also like to thank:

Firebat: for being an amazing friend, writer, and person.

Namco-Bandai: for creating the Tekken series and for sponsoring the Super Sentai franchise for thirty-one seasons now.

And you: for reading my story.